Improvement in hoop-skirt clasps



WN W y mml Y gieten M. sAMUEL's, or

W Vae.

NEW YoRK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 85,480, dated Deccmbm- 29,1868.

IMPRQVEMENT IN HOOP-SKIRT CPASPS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part 0f the Same.

To all whom it may conce/rn Be it known that I, M. SAMUELS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have'invented a new and improved Hoop-Skirt; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of this invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan and a sectional side elevation of my improved clasp. y

Figure 4 shows similar views of an 01d clasp.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consistsin the arrangement of a clasp, provided with tubular bell-shaped guides at its ends, in combination with the overlapping ends of the hoops of a hoop-skirt, in such a manner that the'hoops can be freely extended and contracted, and that-the covl,ering of said hoops is preserved against abrasion While ,being passed through the bell-shaped guides.

A represents a hoop-skirt, which is composed of a series of hoops, B, supported by tapes C.

These tapes are suspended from the waistband D, and four (more or less) hoops, Bi", on the top of the A skirt, do not extend clear round, leaving an opening E in front of the skirt, so to facilitate the operation of putting on or taking off the skirt.

of thc hoops, Bit, is made in three parts, which are connected by clasps a, such as shown in fige, so

that said hoops-caribe extended or shortened, as may` be desired,

In thc waistband is secured the lifting-cord b, each tapes O, or in a piece of leather, or other suitable material, attached to said tape, so that, by pulling the ends of said lifting-cord, the skirt can be raised, and by releasing the lifting-cord, the skirt is lowered. If the skirt is raised, the hoops B* have to be shortened, and 'vice lversa, in order to preserve'the proper shape, and this object is eiiected by means ofthe sliding-clasps al.

The ends of the hoops` B, below the, opening E, overlap each other, and they are connected by tapes 0*, which are detached fromV the waistband, and which may be properly termedr loosetapes.

The connection between theI hoops and'the loose tapes is effected by clasps el, which are provided with bell-shaped guide-tubes-c, (see tig. 3,) through which the ends of said hoops slide freely. These bell-shaped guide-tubes are so shaped that the abrasion of the covering of the hoops is effectually prevented, and a hoopskirt is obtained which can be extended or contracted at pleasure.

The tubular guide-tubes c are connected to the body of the clasp d by solder, or they may be made solid with the saine, and they also serve to keep the ends of the hoops apart, so that no undue frictien is produced.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

The bell-shaped guide-tubes e on the clasps d, in combination with the hoops B and tapes 0*, substantially as a-nd for the purpose described.

M. SAMUELS.

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, ERNns'r F. KASTENHUBER.

branch of which passes through a hole, c, inl one of the I 

